Republican gubernatorial candidate James Comer says jobs and competitiveness will be centerpieces of his campaign, but he'll need Democrats on board.
Speaking to WDRB-TV, Comer admitted there are few major policy differences between him and his GOP challenger, former Louisville Metro councilman Hal Heiner, but he said there’s more to the primary race than establishing conservative bona fides.
"The issue in this primary is going to be who can attract conservative Democrats and Independents because in Kentucky it's 38 percent Republican, 50 percent Democrat, 12 percent Independent. So you can't just get the straight hardcore Republicans and win a statewide election," he said.
Near the top of Comer’s priority list: tax reform and “right-to-work” legislation. The gubernatorial hopeful argues both will improve Kentucky’s growth potential and job climate.
Comer was the only Republican elected to statewide office in 2011, but a recent Public Policy Polling survey showed the Agriculture Commissioner trailing Heiner by 6 points.
